In honour of dear Marlena Spieler, who left this world on July 6, 2023, I would like to share with you this recipe she told me about a few years ago, told to her by a chef friend. She and I both adored tomatoes! Marlena was a whirlwind! A food writer and author of […]
Tag: Pasta
Pasta Rules!
I’m beginning to wonder if there’s something wrong with me! Here’s why… An article I was recently reading in a local magazine included a photo not unlike this one, minus the basil leaf, of white spaghetti topped with a huge dollop of tomato sauce. And as soon as I saw it I had a visceral […]
Lentil Ragu with Rigatoni
When my friend Deb. Mele posted a recipe for Lentil Bolognese I have to say, it got my attention! I’m always on the lookout for interesting pasta sauces and vegetarian meals. I’m that woman who stuffs Castelluccio lentils into her luggage when packing to come home from Italy. Castelluccio lentils are grown in Umbria and […]
Mary’s Spaghetti Sauce
I was probably about 12 and this was my very first experience with the flavours of Italian cuisine and I have to say it was love at first bite. I simply had to have the recipe so I could make it. Now…my parents and siblings were not big into garlic and certainly nothing spicy…so that […]
Basil Ricotta Gnocchi With Tomato Sausage Sauce
When the garden puts forth wonderful basil each summer, there are so many delicious things to be made! This version of cavatelli has ricotta cheese in the dough and is not quite as soft as potato gnocchi. This “pasta” is another end of summer, last of the basil, dinner in our house! If you have […]
Spaghetti With Green Onion Pesto
This is my take on “ramp” pesto as no matter how hard I look, I never seem to be able to find local ramps here in B.C. To get them they need to be to bought in from eastern Canada, which I have done but it’s expensive even if they are amazing! What you are […]
Cauliflower Italian Sausage Strozzapreti Da Leo
I was inspired to create this pasta after tasting my husband’s lunch at Trattoria Da Leo in Lucca, Italy. It’s not exactly the same but it’s still damned good. I like to use cauliflower when it’s in season because I think it’s sweeter, but this can be made anytime and it will still be a […]
Cacio e Pepe
This is the best version of Cacio e Pepe I have made so far, although in Rome, where the dish originates, we found they use tonnarelli aka alla Chitarra. a thick spaghetti and usually it’s fresh. I would recommend the Spaghetti alla Chitarra pasta made by either Rummo or good pasta from the Napes/Gragnano area. […]
Red, White And Green Lasagne
The colours of the Italian flag! I am always on the look-out for great tasting vegetarian pasta dishes and think this one fits the bill. Makes 8 Servings For the Lasagne: 2 Tbsp. EVO 3 large red bell peppers, chopped 15 oz. good quality ricotta cheese 1 ½ lbs. broccoli, flowerets cut into ¾” pieces […]
Lasagne With Turkey Sauce
Who doesn’t love a good lasagne? I think you’ll really like this recipe! The Turkey Sauce is rich, aromatic and delicious! 1 batch Turkey Sauce 1 (15 oz.) container whole-milk ricotta cheese 3 cups (packed) coarsely grated whole-milk mozzarella cheese 1 ¼ cups freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano, divided 16-20 sheets no-boil lasagne noodles (approx. 7×3”), […]